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No. 2 Michigan State rolls past Toledo, 75-62

Nov 21, 2009 - 3:02 AM By TIM MARTIN Associated Press Writer

EAST LANSING, Mich.(AP) -- Even though No. 2 Michigan State wasn't at its best, it found a way to win easily at home.

Draymond Green had 15 points to lead a balanced attack and the Spartans kept up their home court mastery with a 75-62 victory over Toledo on Friday night.

The game was a regional matchup in the Legends Classic. The Spartans (3-0) will host Valparaiso on Sunday before heading to Atlantic City, N.J., for a date next Friday with Florida in the tournament semifinals.

The Spartans won their 42nd straight home game against a nonconference opponent, extending a streak that started after a loss to Duke on Dec. 3, 2003. Coach Tom Izzo improved to 37-0 at home in November and reached 339th victories in 15 seasons at Michigan State.

Izzo is one win shy of his mentor Jud Heathcote for the most in school history. But he wasn't happy with how his team, especially some of its big men, played against Toledo.

"It looks to me a little bit fat and sassy," said Izzo, who felt that some of his players got content and selfish rather than staying focused and disciplined against Toledo. "We've just got a lot of work to do."

Izzo was irritated with shooting, defense and rebounding. Michigan State - usually a dominant team on the boards - had only a 44-40 rebounding edge over Toledo.

Chris Allen had 14 points for Michigan State while Kalin Lucas scored 12. Delvon Roe had 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Durrell Summers added 10 points.

"In a big game or a not-so-big game, you've got to emphasis the same stuff, really," Summers said. "It's going to help down the road, in the (NCAA) tournament. You can't really let up on any team. And I think we kind of let up a little bit today."

Stephen Albrecht scored 20 points for Toledo (0-3), which trailed by as many as 20 in the second half.

"It's a very tough place to play," Toledo coach Gene Cross said of the Breslin Center. "And they're a hard-nosed team."

Toledo is one of the few non-Big Ten teams to beat Michigan State at Breslin Center on Izzo's watch. The Rockets defeated the Spartans 81-76 in 2002 - their last trip to East Lansing.

But the talent gap was much bigger Friday night. The quicker, bigger and more athletic Spartans opened the game with a thunderous dunk by Summers off a pass from Lucas, setting the tone for a long evening for the Rockets.

Justin Anyijong gave Toledo an 8-5 lead on a 3-pointer with 16:32 remaining in the first half. The Spartans answered with a 13-0 run, including 3-pointers from Allen and Korie Lucious.

Michigan State went deep into its bench in the first half, while the frustrated Rockets resorted to launching 3s when they couldn't crack the Spartans' aggressive defense.

Michigan State led by as many as 17 in the first half before Toledo used a 10-0 run to make it 37-30 at intermission.

The Spartans started the second half with a 8-0 run, capped by Allen's dunk, to take a 45-30 lead. Michigan State led by as many as 20 points in the second half.

Raymar Morgan, battling foot and ankle injuries, did not play but could have been available in an emergency. Morgan played through the injuries in Tuesday's win over Gonzaga but wasn't needed against the Rockets.

"We're not that good without him," Izzo said. "We need to get him back."